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16 November 2017

The 2017 "Readers' Choice Inspirational Canadian Magician of the Year" award

Updated December 1st to add:

The nomination period is over. Please check back regularly to see when voting starts!

Updated November 28th to add the following nominee:

Neil Croswell - "I have watched Neil devote his
life to magic from a young age and he has stuck to his vision from day
one. His determination and work ethic over the years make him an
inspiration as well as his countless awards and international TV
appearances (Fool Us, etc.). In 2017, he appeared on "Masters of
Illusion" , completed 250+ shows on a cruise in the Bahamas, and
performed internationally across Asia which helped raise money for
charitable causes in Sri Lanka. To accomplish what he has at his age, I
believe, is an inspiration to Canadian magicians with goals of a
professional career."

Updated November 27th to add the following nominee:

Ryan Brown - "Ryan started performing magic very early in school. While
he was in my class, he would bargain his work completion in order to go
to the kindergarten class and perform his latest trick. He continued to
perform and cam back several years to perform free at our school's fun
fair. True school and community spirit. Ryan has inspired many of the
students to believe in their dream and to work hard to achieve it. He
continues to seek advancement in his craft by seeking peer help and
taking classes taught by more experienced magicians."

"Performed at Screemers at Exhibition Place Toronto in October. Great show Ryan!!Increased
his knowledge of magic by taking classes in Las Vegas with the master
of masks and magical knowledge, Jeff McBride earlier this year."

Updated November 24 to add the following nominee:

Benzi Train "because of his tireless work over the years to promote the
performance of live magic in Toronto and his efforts at the Sid Lorraine
Hat & Rabbit Club and bringing in of top quality lecturers to our
community. His (and partner Jonah Babbins) show Newest Trick in the Book
gives any magician a venue/opportunity to perform in front of a live
audience. He has inspired many magicians to challenge themselves
creatively or to even perform live."

Updated on November 21 to add the following nominee:

Murray and Teresa Hatfield - "The Magic Demon nominates Murray and Teresa Hatfield for starring in and producing their second ever extraordinary magic and illusions-filled phantasmagoria "Unbelievable" at this summer's PNE in Vancouver. For the second year in a row, it was again one of the the most inspiring and entertaining stadium-scale magical events Vancouver has ever seen." In addition, Murray and Teresa amazed on season 4 of Penn and Teller Fool Us this year where Penn said of their performance "I haven't seen a better version of Metamorphosis ever.". Murray is the president of the Canadian Association of Magicians.

Julie Eng - Along with running programs such as "Senior Sorcery" and "My Magic Hands," this year Julie (with Jonathan Levit) interviewed David Williamson at Magic Live! in addition to being the official photographer for "The Magic of Johnny Thompson." Julie is also one of the guides in an upcoming hour-long documentary for CBC's The Nature of Things that will be looking at the the intersection of science and magic cross paths. Julie is the Executive Director at Magicana.

Updated at 1:30pm to add:

First nomination is for 11 year old Caiden Finch!"He has performed on stage for paying audience and I might say he was great. His magic was excellent. He was dressed for the occasion. He had a themed routine and what I really liked was that came in [to Perfect Magic] about week before the show and asked for some advice. I talked, he listened and implemented 95% of it in his show."(I had the pleasure of meeting Caiden at Sorcerers Safari in 2016. He's a fine choice for inspirational nomination!)

The Canada's Magic "Readers' Choice 2017 Inspirational Canadian Magician
of the Year" award nominations are now open.

You may nominate living Canadian Magician(s) of
your choosing by leaving their name along with a short note about how
they inspired you in 2017, in the comments below. (Or you may email me
your nomination.)

Nominations will be accepted up until 11:59PM on Thursday November the 30th. I will contact the nominees via email and give them one week to accept or decline their nomination. The full list of nominations will be published and voting will
commence in December. (Canada's Magic is not eligible for the award, nor will it be
participating in the nomination or voting process.)

This is a "bragging rights" only contest. There is no cash value for this award.

Here are some ideas for potential nominees (individuals and groups can be nominated):

24 comments:

I nominate Benzi Train because of his tireless work over the years to promote the performance of live magic in Toronto and his efforts at the Sid Lorraine Hat & Rabbit Club and bringing in of top quality lecturers to our community. His (and partner Noah Babbins) show Newest Trick in the Book gives any magician a venue/opportunity to perform in front of a live audience. He has inspired many magicians to challenge themselves creatively or to even perform live.

The magic or Ryan Brown. I have known Ryan for many years and not only is he a close friend but amazing magician who is dedicating his life to magic and works extremely hard so he definitely deserves an award.

I'd like to nominate Ryan Brown ("The Magic of Ryan Brown"). I've known Ryan since he was a youth and was shown his first magic tricks. From that point on, Ryan became dedicated to learning the craft, and perfecting tricks and routines. He recently won a scholarship to an exclusive magic school in Las Vegas where he had opportunity to perfect his craft further. Ryan creates routines to amaze his audiences with thought to ages he he performing in front of. He continues to create illusions himself. Seeing a performance by Ryan is nothing short of amazing.

I second all these nominations of Ryan. I have worked with as his assistant. And he is always improving and raising the bar, trying and accomplishing new tricks and striving to be the best magician he can be.

Ryan Brown. Ryan started performing magic very early in school. While he was in my class, he would bargain his work completion in order to go to the kindergarten class and perform his latest trick. He continued to perform and cam back several years to perform free at our school's fun fair. True school and community spirit. Ryan has inspired many of the students to believe in their dream and to work hard to achieve it. He continues to seek advancement in his craft by seeking peer help and taking classes taught by more experienced magicians.

Performed at Screemers at Exhibition Place Toronto in October. Great show Ryan!!Increased his knowledge of magic by taking classes in Las Vegas with the master of masks and magical knowledge, Jeff McBride earlier this year.

Ryan Brown is an example of a young man who knew what he wanted to accomplish, kept focused under difficult conditions, and has achieved it - a life in magic. Not only is he talented, he is a joy to work with, both personally and professionally. My agency had the pleasure of mentoring and booking Ryan from early in his career. He takes his magic very seriously, and is constantly working to raise the bar on his show and learn from others. He is worthy of an award.

I would like to nominate Neil Croswell. I have watched Neil devote his life to magic from a young age and he has stuck to his vision from day one. His determination and work ethic over the years make him an inspiration as well as his countless awards and international TV appearances (Fool Us, etc.). In 2017, he appeared on "Masters of Illusion" , completed 250+ shows on a cruise in the Bahamas, and performed internationally across Asia which helped raise money for charitable causes in Sri Lanka. To accomplish what he has at his age, I believe, is an inspiration to Canadian magicians with goals of a professional career.

I second the nomination for Ben Train for his incredible work with the Toronto Magic Company. He is an amazing performer and producer and has worked very hard to keep magic alive in the Toronto performing arts scene.

I nominate Ryan Brown because having known him since he was 15, I have seen him hold fast to his dream of being a professional magician in the face of having his mother suffer a devastating illness when Ryan was age 11.

As a result Ryan had to grow up in a blue collar single parent household in a low income area, having to overcome many obstacles in order to be where he is today.

Many years ago, I gave Ryan Brown his first opportunity to perform professionally. Seeing his accomplishments to date astounds me, just like his magic does.

Ryan continues to diversify his act. In 2017 he added new stage illusions and executed them flawlessly in his own style. As Ryan moves to the next phase of his career, I can't help but be inspired by his daily dedication to the craft of magic. New wardrobe, new card manipulation, new stage illusions, he's been hard at work this year.

On a personal level, 2017 was an extra challenging year for Ryan, with the passing of his father. Ryan's first performance on a Las Vegas stage this past September would have made him very proud.

It is for these reasons that I nominate Ryan Brown for "Inspirational Canadian Magician of the Year".